Defining Psychology
The scientific study of mind and behavior.
What is psychology?
Observation, measurement, hypotheses, data analysis, peer review, and replication are practices used by psychologists because psychology is this.
What is a science?
This psychologist opened a psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879.
Who is Wilhelm Wundt?
This school of thought examined the basic elements or “parts” of conscious experience.
What is structuralism?
This perspective asks how the brain, genes, body, and physiology influence behavior.
What is the biological perspective?
Thoughts, feelings, memories, perceptions, beliefs, and decisions are examples of these internal processes.
What are mental processes?
A claim that can be investigated through research has this characteristic.
What is testability?
This psychologist developed functionalism and asked what the mind helps people do.
Who is William James?
This school of thought examined the purpose of consciousness and how mental processes help people adapt.
What is functionalism?
This perspective studies perception, attention, memory, reasoning, language, and decision-making.
What is the cognitive perspective?
Speaking in class, pressing a button, avoiding eye contact, and completing an assignment are examples of this.
What is behavior?
The characteristic of a scientific claim that means evidence could show the claim to be wrong.
What is falsifiability?
This psychologist emphasized unconscious processes, childhood experiences, psychoanalysis, and defense mechanisms.
Who is Sigmund Freud?
This school of thought focused on observable behavior and learning through environmental consequences.
What is behaviorism?
A psychologist explaining a phobia by examining a frightening experience and later avoidance is primarily using this perspective.
What is the behavioral perspective?
A psychologist investigating how a person interprets sensory information while driving is studying this area of psychology.
What is perception?
A researcher measures whether background music affects performance on a memory task, and another researcher repeats the same procedure.
What are testability and replicability?
This psychologist argued that psychology should focus on observable and measurable behavior, while this psychologist explained how consequences shape future behavior.
Who are John B. Watson and B. F. Skinner?
Structuralism asked what the mind is made of, whereas this school of thought asked what the mind does.
What is functionalism?
A psychologist studying how cultural norms, peer pressure, and school expectations influence a student’s behavior is using this perspective.
What is the sociocultural perspective?
A student feels nervous before a presentation, speaks quickly, and avoids eye contact. The nervousness is an example of this, while speaking quickly and avoiding eye contact are examples of this.
What are a mental process and observable behaviors?
“Listening to classical music always makes people more intelligent” is weaker as a scientific claim than “Students who listen to classical music will score higher on a specific memory test” because the second claim is measurable and could be shown wrong.
What are testability and falsifiability?
One of these psychologists emphasized needs and self-actualization, while the other developed person-centered therapy based on genuineness, empathy, and unconditional positive regard.
Who are Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers?
A theory emphasizing unconscious conflict may offer insight into behavior, but it is criticized if its claims cannot be tested or potentially shown wrong.
What are psychoanalysis and the scientific principle of falsifiability?
Maria has recently moved schools, feels anxious, eats lunch alone, avoids speaking in class, and is sleeping poorly. A complete explanation would examine her biology, thoughts and emotions, and relationships and environment.
What is the biopsychosocial model?